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Lyon Opera House guided tour

1 Place de la Comédie, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Description

The Lyon Opera House was originally called the Grand Theatre; it was built in the 1830's but was completely redesigned by the now world-famous architect Jean Nouvel in the 1980's. Only the original foyer and exterior façade were preserved and the total floor space was tripled by expanding the structure both up and down: the ground was excavated to create some rehearsal space and the height of the building was increased by adding a steel and glass barrel vault thus giving the building its distinctive shape. There is now 20m of underground and 42m of above ground space across 18 floors. Guided tours of 1h30 are conducted several times a week, in French only.

Access & Transport

Address: 1 Pl. de la Comédie in the 1st arr. The Hôtel de Ville - Louis Pradel metro station (A, C) is only 100m away and there are several bus stops within a 2mins' walk radius (S1, C3, C13, C14, 132, 171)

Instructions & Recommendations

The min. age for the guided tour is 12-yr old. Booking can be made online, by calling +33(0)469 855 454 or at the Opera ticket office Tue-Sat from 12h to 19h.

Meta review

"Surprising" and "daring" are recurring adjectives used to qualify the building design. Most visitors lean towards calling it a success and find the guided tour an excellent way to learn more about the architectural tour de force that enabled such an increasing in floor space whilst keeping the original building shell. They also enjoy some of the interior decoration but many reviewers find the modern auditorium lacking in panache and opulence.

Environmental & Social

No data available except that between 2010 and 2020 the Opera has reduced its electricity consumption by 40% (probably from a high baseline) and that sustainability has become an important factor in purchasing/sourcing decisions. Part of the city's architectural and cultural heritages.

Conclusion

The Opera House is a centrally located landmark in Lyon so there is little excuse not to take a look at it. If you can understand French and have some interest in modern architecture and/or opera, then we think the guided tour is an excellent option.

Key positive

Tour guides are knowledgeable and price is affordable

Very centrally located with several other attractions nearby

Key negative

The guided tours are available in French only

Suitability

The guided tour involves climbing stairs and is not appropriate for visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Visit is available only in French

av. transport time:0h 25m

est. visit time:1h 30m

Regulated hours

Monday -

Tuesday -

Wednesday13:00 - 14:30

Thursday17:30 - 19:00

Friday -

Saturday13:00 - 14:30

Sunday -

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
€12
Adult
12 - 64
€12
Child
5 - 11
€0
Infant
0 - 4
€0
Min. age is 12yr old

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